How To Steam Broccoli In The Microwave: {Quick & Easy}

This method is a must-have in my kitchen bag of tricks. Use fresh bunches of broccoli and you’ll never settle for bags of frozen again–it comes out delicious in minutes with no special gadgets required! Here’s how…

Wash and trim bunches then separate into smaller pieces, try to keep them in uniform sizes.

Arrange the pieces in a glass bowl or casserole dish and add a bit of water (no more than 2 tablespoons of water for 2 to 3 cups of fresh florets). Cover.

Heat on high 2 to 2 1/2 minutes then check, if they aren’t quite done, re-cover and allow to sit until they’re fork tender.

Once done, strain off any remaining water and serve.

Tip: Be sure to use very little water and don’t overcook or there will be an extreme loss of nutrients–plus the result is mushy, soggy bunch. There’s plenty of water on them from washing plus the extra added to be sufficient.

Note: Times may vary slightly due to microwaves heating differently.

If you prefer boiling them on the stove:

Bring a pot of water to boil, add a bit of salt then toss in the freshly prepped pieces (as directed above). Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until the stalks are fork tender.

You can also use a bamboo[1] steamer, they’ll take about the same amount of time as boiling them.